Thank you for your interest in our program. Formal acceptance into the Modern Dance program (including incoming freshman majors, minors, and transfer students) is contingent upon being admitted into the University of Utah. University applications must be submitted by December 1 in order to be considered for all University wide scholarships and financial aid (for questions, contact Financial Aid at (801) 581-6211). We encourage you to check with the Admissions Office for more information about the University application process and deadlines. Call (801) 581-7281, or visit admissions.utah.edu/apply.
To apply for admission to the Modern Dance program, please complete the Modern Dance Audition Application below. Within the application, you’ll be asked which audition you’ll be attending. Auditions will be in-person at the Marriott Center for Dance on the University of Utah campus on the dates below. Although recommended, you do not need to be admitted to the University of Utah in order to audition.
Apply & Audition
You application is not considered complete until all of the following steps have been completed:
Step 1: Apply for UofU Admissions
Step 2: Apply to Audition
Step 3: Pay the Audition Fee
Step 4: Apply for Scholarships
If paying the Audition Fee is a financial burden, please reach out to to request an Audition Fee Waiver. The University of Utah School of Dance is dedicated to ensuring all prospective students are able to secure an audition opportunity regardless of financial status. You can also request a Fee Waiver for your application for admissions to the University of Utah here. The inability to pay a college application fee or audition fee should never be a barrier to applying to the University of Utah School of Dance.
An automatic confirmation will be sent when you have completed your Modern Dance Audition Application and paid the Audition Fee.
Audition Dates for Entry Fall 2024
Registration for auditions will begin 30 minutes before the audition time posted below. All of our auditions held at the University of Utah campus are held over weekends in which we will be presenting evening performances featuring students from the School of Dance in our Hayes Christensen Auditorium in the Marriott Center for Dance. You are invited to attend these performances for free as our guests if your schedule permits.
The Process
After you submit your Audition Application and pay the Audition Fee for the School of Dance (separate from the University Common Application process), your information will automatically be forwarded to Natalie Desch, Recruitment Director for the Modern Dance program. You will then receive an email confirmation of your registration along with a letter outlining the schedule of the day, which typically goes from 9:00am – 2:00pm. You will take a ballet barre, followed by a longer Modern Dance ‘technique’ class. Those will be followed by a guided improvisation section and then you will be asked to present a 1-2 minute self-choreographed solo for the faculty.
We will accept video auditions only from those prospective students unable to attend one of the live audition dates. If auditioning via video, complete the Audition Application above to submit your video. View the Video Requirements
October 14, 2023 | Huntington Beach, CA
5:15pm - 7:15pm
Dance Academy SoCal
October 21, 2023 | Salt Lake City, UT
9:00am - 2:00pm
Marriott Center for Dance
October 29, 2023 | Seattle, WA
1:00pm - 3:30pm
Pacific Northwest Ballet (Phelps Center)
Date TBD | Video Audition Due
Fall 2023 Video Auditions due -- will be reviewed with Fall in-person audition candidates
January 27, 2024 | Orlando, FL
6:00pm - 8:30pm
Harriett's Orlando Ballet Centre
February 11, 2024 | Houston, TX
1:00pm - 3:30pm
Institute of Contemporary Dance
February 16 - 18, 2024 | Beaverton, OR
Time TBD
National High School Dance Festival (Regional)
February 24, 2024 | Salt Lake City, UT
9:00am - 2:00pm
Marriott Center for Dance
Date TBD | Video Audition Due
Spring 2024 Video Auditions due -- will be reviewed with Spring in-person audition candidates
Date TBD | El Paso, TX*
Time TBD
The Ballet Alliance
*All auditioning dancers must be participants of The Ballet Alliance 2024 Festival
August 2024 | Salt Lake City, UT*
9:00am - 2:00pm
Marriott Center for Dance
*In order to audition in August, students MUST have been admitted to the University of Utah for Fall 2024 semester. The deadline to apply for admissions is April 1, 2024.
Scholarship Applications
To be considered for University of Utah merit scholarships or School of Dance departmental scholarships, please visit our Scholarship Page.
Please reach out to Professor Natalie Desch, Recruitment Director for the Modern Dance program with any questions you may have at .